Meeting Abstract
An organism’s phenotype is the product of its morphology, behavior, and physiology. Hormonal variation associated with morphology can often explain variation in behavior, as the relationship between androgens and behavior has been well documented. However, in species that exhibit multiple discrete phenotypes, the relationship between morphology, androgens, and behavior is less clear, and may be closely related to the organism’s social environment. Red-backed Fairy-wrens, a small Australian songbird, can breed in either female-like brown, or ornamented red/black nuptial plumage. Males of both phenotypes are equally capable of producing high androgen levels, yet red/black males are more likely to have high androgen levels than brown males during the pre-breeding season. This could be correlated with more social interactions associated with molt into ornamented plumage. Yet, even within ornamented males there exists considerable variation in androgen levels. We present data on the variation in plumage phenotype and its relation to androgen levels, social behavior, and social environment, comparing both between phenotypes and within.
